Testimonies from our students.
Mark
A lifelong friend of mine recommended that I try Teen Challenge, Victoria, after he witnessed my life sing into despair. So, in May 2017 I finally gave up my struggle with addiction and just let the Teen Challenge staff support me through the 12 month program. Not only did I give up cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana, but I met an almighty God who saved my soul as well.
I found that this combination of abstinence from the drugs that filled my life and also filling my emptiness with God's love was a powerful way to get healed.
I'm now approaching 3 years as a new person. I am so much happier and fulfilled in life. I'm looking forward to a long and healthy future. In August 2018 I was asked to stay on as an Intern working in the program. Now since August 2019 I have been working as a Support Worker. This role allows me to give back to society and has helped me to learn some new skills.
I am so very grateful to God and the awesome staff at Teen Challenge and my friend. They have saved my life and given me new hope.
I happily and confidently recommend that anyone struggling with life controlling issues, like addiction, to just give Teen Challenge a call.
Brad
Hello, my name is Brad I’m 28 years old I’ve just recently graduated the Teen Challenge Victoria 12-month rehabilitation program. Before I came into the program I’d been addicted to drugs for almost half of my life as well as involved in crime which landed me in prison due to my actions and choices to support my habit. While in prison I found out about the 12-month Teen Challenge program and decided to change my life while being in the program I have worked on all the issue’s and hurts that I masked up emotionally with using substances to escape. I have learnt that I can find my worth through God and I’m finally seeing the man that I was always born to be. Not only to myself but my partner and my two boys too in saying this I know struggles will come in life as they do for us all but the changes in me now have helped me to see that I can turn to God in my darkest times and deepest needs and know that he loves me for who I am. I would like to thank Teen Challenge Victoria for what they’ve done in my life and may all glory be given to God.
Johnny
Hi, my name is Johnny. Throughout my childhood, I lacked confidence in myself and suffered from low self-esteem. Because I suffered from low self-esteem, I filled my body with all sorts of drugs such as heroin and ICE to make myself feel good. After about 9 years of abusing my body with drugs, I found myself in a dark and miserable place. All I wanted to do was to fill my emptiness, and the only way I knew how was to pump my body with poison. I finally came to the conclusion that I needed professional help, and this is when I found Teen Challenge. I entered the Teen Challenge rehabilitation program on the 21st of May. Since then, my life has totally changed. God has helped me work through all my old behaviours and attitudes and also given me the confidence to walk through life and not let difficult circumstances pull me down. I just want to thank Teen Challenge for giving me the opportunity to get my life back on track.
Paul
Hi my name is Paul and I am currently employed at Teen Challenge as a mentor. I came to the program in December 2014 at the age of 46 after using drugs for a period of 26 years. I was in a shocking state. I had heavily abused my body, having contracted Hepatitis C, and having just been released from the psych ward, and then from hospital suffering from pneumonia, having 4 litres of fluid drained from my lungs. I had been diagnosed with depression, and had felt like there was no hope for me in life. I had been a petty criminal, had been homeless, and had ruined every job I had been given in my life. My family had just about given up on me, after years of me abusing their trust. Through coming to this program and finding God, I have a new life that I thought I could never have. My health has been restored, I have been delivered from depression, and was given access to Hepatitis therapy, which has cleared me of that disease. Praise to God for leading me here! He led me through the program and I have found that his plan for my life was to work here so that I could help other drug users break free from their addictions. I have been employed here for almost 3 years and am about to begin a counselling course to further enhance my skills as a mentor. I have been transformed by God from being useless and a burden to all around me into a productive member of society, and Teen Challenge was the vehicle that made all of this possible. The work that God has done in me would not have been possible without me coming here. Praise Jesus!
Ali
I was born in Sudan in 1989. I came to Teen Challenge in 2018 and finished the program in 2019. I am now doing S.L.T (Student Leadership Training) at Teen Challenge 2020.
My story in addiction started 5 years ago. I was taking drugs very hard and I lost control of my life and damaged my family and friends. I have a big family that I was living with and my life started to change when I began taking drugs. I went to another rehab but it didn’t help me and I relapsed into deeper addiction.
I left home because my addiction was getting too heavy and I was hurting too many people. I left my job and I got involved with bad people who were doing crime. My life was spiralling out of control and I lost my relationship with my family (Mum, Brothers and Sister) and with my Sudanese community as well.
My family friend asked me if I wanted to change my life and I said yes defiantly. My friend told me about Teen Challenge. I came to Teen Challenge a totally broken young man. It was really hard at first, my body was crying out for drugs. I didn’t like the program for the first few months then I started to enjoy the program. I surrendered to Jesus and I found hope and love for myself and others that I’d never experienced before. Now I am totally free from addiction. I am looking forward to a great future. I have been restored to my family, they are really happy with where I am at today. They have had their trust restored in me.
This is my story. Thank you God for leading me to find Teen Challenge.
Christos
Hi my name is Christos. This is my second attempt at rehab. I came to Teen Challenge on June 11th determined to change my life. My life has been a struggle as a result of bad choices, these choices ultimately turned me into an addict. I succumbed to ICE and gambling. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a criminal nor did I ever get in trouble, I came from a good family. I got caught up with the wrong people, my life changed when I discovered ICE. Coming to Teen Challenge has literally saved my life. I truly believe I'm here by divine appointment. I have found God, I'm truly grateful now that I can serve Him. Thanks to Jesus I am loved and worthy to receive all of God's blessings.
Stuart
I came into the program raked with fear, shame and self-hatred. I had used everyone that loved and trusted me. My deceitful life revolved around drug abuse and a self-centered lifestyle. My downward spiral began at 16. I went to church but never accepted myself or allowed God into my heart. This led me to engaging in drug use to provide a place that I belonged. This took me away from Jesus for 10 years. One night after losing the last of my true friends by deceit and drug abuse I cried out to God and he literally told me to come to TC. I found myself at TC 2 weeks later. I was a wreck when I arrived. Since then I have developed an identity in Jesus and a desire to be the light of Jesus to others. I have had immense support from the TC staff and my Mentor. They have walked me through the ruins of my life and helped me repair my broken thinking. This place is amazing! God sent me here because it was the only way for me to get out of my mess and in his presence for longer than a church service. Without God & TC I would still be a wreck and totally bound. Now I grasp freedom in Christ and community. Stuart is now on staff as a part-time support worker.